Policy for Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

Service Animals

A "service animal" means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform
tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory,
or psychiatric disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be
directly related to the person's disability. The provision of emotional support, well-being,
comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this
definition. Species other than dogs or, in some cases, miniature horses, are not considered
service animals for the purpose of this definition of a service animal.

Service animals will be permitted to accompany people with disabilities in all areas
of Farmingdale State College's facilities, including Residence Halls, where students,
members of the public, and other participants in services, programs or activities
are allowed to go. The College does not require documentation, such as proof that
the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal. Individuals
accompanied by a service animal on campus but who do not need any disability-related
accommodations are not required to register with the Disability Services Center, nor
is such individual required to submit a request for a reasonable accommodation to
receive access of his or her service animal.

Additionally, the College cannot ask about the nature or extent of a person's disability
to determine whether a person's animal qualifies as a service animal. However, when
it is not readily apparent that a dog is a service animal, staff may make two inquiries
to determine whether the dog qualifies as a service animal, which are:

(1) Is the dog required because of a disability?(2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

A service animal must be housebroken (i.e., trained so that it controls its waste
elimination, absent illness or accident) and must be kept under control by a harness,
leash, or other tether. The College will assess requests for the use of miniature
horses by people with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Requests should be submitted
to the Disability Services Center and, consistent with applicable laws, the College
may make modifications in its policies to permit their use if they meet certain criteria
and have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of
people with disabilities.

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

An "emotional support animal" (or comfort animal) is an animal that provides emotional
or other support that ameliorates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a
person's disability. Unlike service animals, support animals are not required to be
trained to perform work or tasks.

ESA are generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all public
areas of the College as a service animal is allowed to do, but an ESA may reside in
the Residence Halls, including accompanying such individual in all public or common
use areas of the Residence Halls, when it may be necessary to afford the person with
a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing. When transported outside
the private residential area, an ESA must be in an animal carrier or controlled by
leash or harness. Before an ESA can move into the Residence Halls with a person with
a disability, a request must be submitted to the College's Disability Services Center
(DSC) and approval must be granted (preferably at least 30 days prior to move in).
If the disability is not obvious, the DSC may require documentation from a mental
health provider or other mental health professional to be reviewed by Campus Mental
Health Services, in order to provide sufficient information for the College to determine:

• that the individual qualifies as a person with a disability (i.e., has a physical
or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities);
and• that the ESA may be necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity
to use and enjoy Residential living (i.e. that the animal would provide emotional
support that ameliorates one or more symptoms or effects of the disability).

Responsibilities of People With Disabilities Using Service or Emotional Support Animals

Farmingdale State College is not responsible for the care or supervision of service
or emotional support animals. People with disabilities are responsible for the cost,
care, and supervision of their animals, including, but not limited to:

• For compliance with any laws pertaining to animal licensing, vaccination, and owner
identification;• For keeping the animal under control and taking effective action when it is out
of control.

For example, the owner is responsible for assuring that the Service Animal or ESA
does not unduly interfere with the routine activities of the residence.

• For feeding and for dog walking, and disposing of its waste (designated areas near
the Residence Halls will be created).• For the actions of the Service Animal or ESA including bodily injury or property
damage.• For any expenses incurred for pest treatment above and beyond standard pest management
in the residence halls, cleaning above and beyond a standard cleaning, and for repairs
to College premises that are assessed (including, after the student and animal vacate
the residence.) The College shall have the right to bill the student account of the
Owner for unmet obligations.

The Office of Residence Life will work together with the Owner as well as roommates/suite mates of the Owner to
resolve issues involving the animal in the residence. The College may relocate any
individual involved, as necessary.

No animal may be left overnight in the Residence Halls to be cared for by anyone other
than the Owner. Moreover, the Owner must notify Accommodative Disability Services
and Residence Life if the animal is no longer needed by the Owner or is no longer
present in the residence. To replace an animal, the Owner must file a new request.

The College will not require any surcharges or fees for Service Animals or ESA. However,
a person with a disability may be charged for damage caused by the animal to the same
extent that the College would normally charge a person for the damage they cause.

People with disabilities who are accompanied by such animals must comply with the
same campus rules regarding noise, safety, disruption, and cleanliness as people without
disabilities. A violation may result in removal of the animal from the premises and
may be reviewed through the Campus Judicial Process.

Exceptions and Exclusions

Farmingdale State College may pose some restrictions on, and may even exclude, an
ESA in certain instances. As noted above, ESA are generally not allowed indoors on
Farmingdale State College's campus other than in Residence Halls. Persons with disabilities
may request approval from the DSC to have the ESA accompany them to other campus areas
as a reasonable accommodation. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case
basis consistent with applicable laws. Any animal may be excluded from an area in
which it was previously authorized to be if:

• it is out of control and effective action is not taken to control it; or• it is not housebroken (or in the case of a support animal that deposits waste in
a designated cage or litter box, the owner fails to clean such cage or box such that
the cleanliness of the room is not maintained); or• it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be mitigated
by reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures, or the provision
of auxiliary aids or services.

In considering whether a Service Animal or ESA poses a direct threat to the health
or safety of others, Farmingdale State College will make an individualized assessment,
based on reasonable judgment, current medical knowledge, or the best available objective
evidence, to determine:

(1) the nature, duration, and severity of the risk;(2) the probability that the potential injury will actually occur; and(3) whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, procedures, or the provision
of auxiliary aids or services, will mitigate the risk.

The College President shall name a designee who shall provide a written statement
of explanation to any person with a disability if a determination is made that the
presence of that person's Service or Emotional Support Animal would fundamentally
alter the nature of a program, service, or activity.

In the event that restriction or removal of an animal is determined to be necessary,
the person with a disability will still be given the opportunity to participate in
the service, program, or activity without having the assistance animal present.

The above provisions on restrictions and exclusions is not intended to cover modifications
to reasonable accommodations. The reasonable accommodation process and modifications
to reasonable accommodations are covered under Farmingdale State College's policy
on disability services.

Guidelines for Members of the Farmingdale Community

To ensure equal access and nondiscrimination of people with disabilities, members
of the Farmingdale State College community must abide by the following:

• Allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities on campus;• Do not ask for details about a person's disabilities;• Do not pet service animals without the handler's consent, as it distracts the animal
from its work;• Do not feed a service animal;• Do not deliberately startle, tease, or taunt a service animal; and• Do not separate or attempt to separate a person from his/her service animal.

If you have a medical/psychological condition that may be affected by the presence
of animals, please contact the Disability Services Center. Farmingdale State College
is committed to ensuring that the needs of all people with disabilities are met and
will determine how to resolve any conflicts or problems as expeditiously as possible.

Grievance Procedures

If the decision is made to deny a request or remove a service or support animal, the
owner may request an appeal of the decision in writing to the Grievance Officer. Appeal
requests must state a specific reason for reconsideration.

Definitions

Owner: the owner is the student or person who is responsible for any type of Service or
Support Animal on campus.

Pet: a domesticated animal that serves a role in providing leisure companionship to its
owner. Pets are not the same as Service or Support Animals and are generally not permitted
inside College facilities.

Service Animal: an animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
individual with a disability.

Support Animal: an animal that is prescribed or otherwise documented by a healthcare or mental health
professional as treatment for an individual with a disability. The Support Animal
is beneficial in alleviating one or more identifiable symptoms or effects of that
individual's disability. Support Animals are only permitted within the owner's on‐campus
housing assignment. A Support Animal is not considered a service animal.

Contacts: questions or concerns related to Service or Support Animals, or other accommodation
information, should be directed to the ADA/Section 504 compliance officer, 631-420-2622
or Director for the Disability Services Center, 631-420-2411.